Conventional online sports books are illegal in many US states
Social sportsbooks use virtual currencies like Sweepstakes Coins and Gold Coins
You can make free sports selections on social sportsbooks using GC and SC
The United States doesn’t have the friendliest environment for sports betting sites, but you can still bet on your favorite sports in the US, thanks to the innovation of social sportsbooks.
If you’re wondering how social sportsbooks are almost singlehandedly reviving the formerly dying sports betting industry in the US, look no further. In this guide, I’ll explain why sports betting sites have historically struggled in the United States, and how social sportsbooks are making life easier for sports bettors in the country.
Social sportsbooks have always had their ups and downs. Here are some of the benefits and drawbacks to expect from using a social betting site in the US:
Social sportsbooks work by allowing you to wager on several sports as you would on a traditional sports betting site, but without having to fund your account first. In my experience, social betting sites offer generous bonuses as soon as you sign up, allowing you to bet on your favorite sports and betting markets for free.
Most social sportsbooks feature two virtual currencies: Gold Coins and Sweepstakes Coins. The former is free and useful for fun betting only. You can get Gold Coins through the numerous bonuses you typically qualify for by being a user of the social sportsbook, but there are also coin bundles you can buy for even more Gold Coins when you run out.
Sweepstakes Coins, on the other hand, let you place sweepstakes bets, which, like betting with Gold Coins, is also free. One crucial difference, however, is that Sweepstakes Coins are redeemable for real prizes on most social sportsbooks if you meet indicated redemption requirements, adding a new dimension to the betting experience.
While you can't buy Sweepstakes Coins on a social sportsbook for sweepstakes betting, you can get them for free in other ways. For one, Sweepstakes Coins usually come as part of your welcome bonus bundle on most social sportsbooks, and I also noticed all the sites I've used offer free SC bonuses on GC bundle purchases.
Social sportsbooks aren’t only advantageous to US bettors, they might be the only option you have. Here are three big ways social sportsbooks are making life easier for gamers in the US and beyond:
While certain social sportsbooks are still unavailable in some US states, you’ll generally encounter significantly fewer restrictions using them compared to your average sports betting site, making them more accessible to US bettors than any other alternative. For instance, Fliff is legit, along with other sites like Sportzino and Rebet.
However, I recommend going through the terms and conditions of any social sportsbook before signing up for an account, as many exclude users from certain US states. That notwithstanding, you still stand a much better chance of finding a social betting site that works in your state than a traditional sportsbook you can use.
Apart from generally making sports betting more accessible to US bettors, social sportsbooks also made it free. The sweepstakes model all social sports betting sites use works by allowing users to bet on all sports and betting markets using virtual currencies like Gold Coins and Sweepstakes Coins.
The virtual currencies are, in turn, obtained for free through the numerous bonuses the site offers, like the welcome bonus you'll find on pretty much any social sportsbook. Since users do not have to make an initial purchase to start betting, social betting is essentially free, easing the lives of bettors in the United States.
One major way social sportsbooks are revolutionizing the sports betting market in the US is by introducing betting innovations that would otherwise be infeasible by traditional sportsbooks due to their strict licensing restrictions.
The betting exchange model is a prime example. For the uninitiated, it’s an online sports betting system in which bettors place ‘lay’ or ‘back’ bets against other bettors instead of against the house. Since users essentially set their odds, betting exchanges reduce, or in some cases, eliminate the house edge and move bettors closer to fairer odds on their sports bets. It’s not a model you’ll often see on conventional sportsbooks, but it’s widely available through social sportsbooks.
If you’re in a US state, especially where traditional sports betting is still illegal, you may be considering a social sportsbook. Here’s a quick start-up guide for new social sportsbook bettors in the United States to ease your journey:
The ideal social sportsbook experience starts with finding the best site offering social sports betting in your state. Many factors go into finding the best site for you: from minor details like bonuses and the user interface to major concerns like the legality of the social sportsbook in your state. Before making your pick, I’d recommend comparing bonuses across different sites, checking the terms and conditions to confirm the availability of the social sportsbook in your state, and generally testing the site to see if it features the sports and betting markets you want from a social betting site.
Once you’re confident you’ve chosen the right site, sign up for an account and follow the steps required to claim the welcome bonus. Some social sportsbooks require promo codes to unlock welcome bonuses, while others may require you to complete an activity, like authorizing email notifications or following them on social media. Whatever it is, you should be able to claim at least one welcome bonus without making an initial purchase. Once you have the bonus, consider placing a few bets on the site to confirm your preferred sports and betting markets are available.
Your welcome bonus should last you for a while, plus most social sportsbooks offer daily reload bonuses to ensure you can access games without an initial purchase. However, there’s always the option to purchase GC bundles when you run out of free Gold Coins to continue placing bets on the social sportsbook without limitations. Please note that purchasing a GC bundle is optional. You can always bet on your favorite sports on any social betting site without an initial purchase using the free Gold Coins and Sweepstakes Coins you get from your bonuses. However, it's good to know there's always that purchase option for when you run out.
When you make sports picks on social sportsbooks using your Sweepstakes Coins, you may qualify for real prizes if your bets are settled in your favor. Since you’re betting in virtual currency, your prizes will be in the same virtual currency (Sweepstakes Coins). However, most social betting sites will let you redeem your SC for real prizes after meeting predetermined playthrough and redemption requirements.
Social sportsbooks have done more than simply bring safe and legal sports betting to the United States; these sites have also made it free to bet on your favorite sports. If you've always wanted to use online sportsbooks or make sports predictions safely and legally from the United States, there's no better way than using a social sportsbook, and this guide has outlined how to get started for beginners.
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